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Hello! Are Premier League matches heading to the U.S.? And Chelsea lads — play nice please.
American (EPL) Dream with ‘everything on the table’
“Everything is on the table right now.”
FIFA, football’s world governing body, estimates that its tournament cycle to the end of 2026 will earn it $11bn. Eleven. Billion. Dollars. Enough to buy a small country.
The cycle covers this summer’s Copa America and the 2026 World Cup. Long story short — the U.S. market is big, big business for FIFA.
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Naturally, European clubs want to work the goldmine too and to an extent they have, by staging friendlies in America. Soon, they might be about to go a step further by taking official league games to the States.
That prospect becoming a reality revolves around a legal dispute involving Relevent Sports, an event-promoter which wants to take competitive European matches across the Atlantic.
Adam Crafton got into the long grass of a contentious story today, and we’re here to explain.
Relevent, how?
A quick breakdown of events.
Relevent made two attempts to hold non-US league games in Miami — a La Liga fixture between Barcelona and Girona, and a regular Ecuadorian match.
FIFA blocked the first and established new rules saying official games had to be played in the correct ‘member territory’. So, for example, Premier League contests must take place in Europe.
US Soccer blocked the second, refusing to licence it on the basis of FIFA’s directive.
As a promoter, Relevent has clout. The man behind it is Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins. More than that, it was already selling things like Champions League TV rights for UEFA in the U.S. So it took FIFA and U.S. Soccer to court.
In essence, Relevent accused both parties of restricting fair competition. Last week, FIFA was removed as a defendant having reached an understanding with Relevent and indicated it would consider changing its rules on where official games could be played.
The matter is so delicate that very few people with a vested interest seem to want to speak publicly about it. But this quote given to Adam by an anonymous source is telling: “Literally everything is on the table right now.”
It’s definitely happening then?
Not necessarily. U.S. Soccer is still a defendant in the case against Relevent, and it has some way to run.
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There are other issues too. In 2008, the Premier League tried to take a round of matches abroad with the proposed creation of ‘Game 39’. It was a disaster. Supporters hated the idea and it was canned before it got going.
Culturally, England considers moving any competitive match abroad to be selling your soul. But the numbers don’t lie. This summer’s friendly between Manchester United and Liverpool, due to be held at the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina, sold out in three hours.
That’s Taylor Swift-esque.
European clubs are forever trying to make money. There’s loads of it to be had in the U.S. So even if supporters are militant, the movers and shakers will be tempted.
Something to remember here. Last year, the Premier League opened an office in Manhattan, New York. It’s not there for the skyline.
Chelsea star’s four goals put him in Golden Boot race
The general view of Chelsea, certainly among The Athletic’s writers, is that they cannot be taken seriously this season, on or off the pitch.
There’s an exception to that rule, though: Cole Palmer.
Sure, Chelsea’s spending on players — close to £750m in 2022-23 and £450m since then — is almost nonsensical, but Palmer from Manchester City for £40m is a steal; maybe the best deal of last summer’s transfer window.
Just four more goals for him against Everton last night, taking him to 20 in the Premier League. The one above was a real gem. It’s Golden Boot territory and he’s giving Erling Haaland a run for his money.
Cole Palmer with a Lionel Messi esque type of goal.
There is literally nothing Cole Palmer can't do 💙🙌pic.twitter.com/BLRuitUlKO
— 𝐉𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐘 (@badboy_jerry) April 16, 2024
His fourth goal, a penalty converted after a squabble over who should take it, spoke to one of the problems at Stamford Bridge: too many individuals in the squad and not enough discipline or maturity.
Nicolas Jackson wanted the ball and so did Noni Madueke. It needed Conor Gallagher to intervene and give it to Palmer (above).
Palmer, 21, is nine from nine with Premier League penalties, so the decision was a no-brainer. Jackson and Madueke got it in the neck from manager Mauricio Pochettino afterwards. Quite right.
Penalty panic in La Liga
At least when it came to it, Palmer’s penalty went in.
Many miles away in Spain, we got a true abomination from 12 yards; possibly the most inept penalty we’ve ever seen.
❌ Emoción hasta el último minuto#OsasunaValencia 🔴🦇#LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/Zynt4feJNZ
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) April 15, 2024
The culprit was Osasuna forward Ante Budimir, in a 1-0 defeat to Valencia. Worse still, it was the 99th minute and virtually the last kick.
No offence, but my eight-year-old could school him here. The facepalms on the bench were tremendous. Presumably, he wanted the goalkeeper to go right, the goalkeeper went left and Budimir’s circuit board blew out.
Ukrainian referees take polygraphs
This next story had April Fool’s Day potential, but it’s 100 per cent serious.
In Ukraine, a drive to improve standards of officiating means referees there are required to pass polygraphs, or lie-detector tests. Fail the test and you’re done. Simple as that.
If this was the Premier League, you’d think it was a parody; that tribal paranoia had pushed scrutiny of referees too far.
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But Ukraine has had problems with corruption and match-fixing in football for many years and the president of the Ukraine FA, Andriy Shevchenko — the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker — isn’t having it.
Mind how you go.
Around The Athletic FC
🖥️ Confession time. I hate the supercomputer, the stats machine which predicts the Premier League table. Duncan Alexander had a go at changing my mind.
📉 Sixty-eight shots, an xG of 9.08… but only two goals in three games. Just one reason why Liverpool are toiling.
🍻 The city of Leverkusen did what any self-respecting city should do after a first ever league title: went out and got leathered.
⏱️ Remember ‘La Remontada’, Barca’s fightback from 4-0 down in 2017? I love the detail of Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi storming furiously into the Camp Nou’s lift.
- Barcelona vs PSG (3pm ET / 8pm UK). Champions League quarter-final, second leg (agg 3-2). Paramount+, TNT Sports 1. Live blog.
- Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid (3pm ET / 8pm UK). Champions League quarter-final, second leg (agg 1-2). Paramount+, TNT Sports 2.
🎙️ Totally Euro Podcast: Our Serie A man James Horncastle is making Champions League predictions. I like his style. Great hair, great insight.
(Top image: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
